Adjustable container holder



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Patented Jan. 26, 1937 PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE CONTAINER HOLDER Frank W. Lucas, Peru, Ind., assignor of one-half to Russell J. Wildman, Peru, Ind.

Application March 25, 1936, Serial No. 10,880

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a variable or adjustable holding device for containers, such as Mason jars and equivalent fruit jars, commodity bottles, cans and the like, and in certain respects bears structural resemblance to What might be conveniently called a bench or table type vise.

Briefly stated, the preferred embodiment of the invention has to do with a base having means for clamping it on a table, bench or the like, there being mounted on said base a circumferentially expansible and contractible container clamp or grip cooperable with a lever or handle rotated drum and pawl and ratchet means to facilitate adjustment of the drum, the rotary movement of the drum constituting the means for regulating or adjusting the size of the clamp.

Novelty is predicated upon the provision of a suitable base with attaching means having a flexible metal band properly constructed to surround the base portion of the jar or other container, there being novel take-up means connected with one end of the band, and yieldable compensating means connected with the opposite end of the band so as to prevent accidental breakage of the jar from undue squeezing pressure.

In addition to the safety device, novelty is attached to this expansible and contractible embracing band or clamp, which is constructed with anti-slipping means to facilitate satisfactorily grasping a wet or slippery jar or other container.

In greater particularity, additional novelty has to do with a novel assemblage constituting the band adjusting or take-up means, this being characterized by a fixed, toothed member surrounding a rotary drum in such a way as to permit the drum to accommodate the adjacent end of the clamping band and to facilitate cooperation of the pawlequipped lever or handle with the complemental teeth.

My primary aim is to generally improve upon structures of this general classification by providing one which is characterized by simplicity, economy and convenience, as well as by an arrangement of structural parts satisfactorily coordinated to insure positive action and to expedite handling of all types of containers, within a reasonable field, ranging from pint to halfgallon jars and the like.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing how the device is used.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately n the plane of the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the rotary drum and pawl and ratchet means.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the inner finished Attention is called first to the clamping band adjusting and take-up means, which is formed as an integral part of the base. This comprises an upstanding, split annulus |2 whose upper edge is serrated, as indicated at I3, to provide ratchet teeth.

M carried by the pivoted lever l5. The inner end portion l6 of the lever spans or bridges the cup-like drum H, which is mounted for rotation within the limits of the adapter annulus l2. It

The brackets 9, which are.

These teeth serve to accommodate a pawl 25 is connected with the drum to operate the drum 7 and the drum is in turn rotatably as well as slidably mounted on an assembling pin 3. A coiled spring l9 is associated with the upper headed end of the pin and underlying portion of the lever.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the spaced apart ends of the adapter diverge, as indicated at and 2|. A suitable guide 22 is carried by the band backing end 20. A laterally directed finger or hook, which serves as a stop element 23, is carried by the opposite end 2|. By laterally bending the end 2|, I define a substantially V- shaped keeper 24 for the yieldable plunger-like anchoring unit 25.

This unit 25 comprises a pin 26 slidably mounted in the rim of the pan or base and provided at its inner end with an attaching eye 21. The numeral 28 designates a coiled cushioning spring. One end of the flexible metal clamping band 29 is looped around the eye, as indicated at 30, and extends around beyond the extension 2| and underneath of the stop element 23. This allows the stop element to facilitate holding the band down in contact with the base. That is to say, it prevents upward displacement of this yieldably anchored end of the clamping band.

Incidentally, the band is in effect a noose and rests upon the base plate and is adapted to embrace the bottom of a jar or other container. The free end of the band extends around and passes slidably through the guide 22 and is bent partially around the rim of the drum, where it is fastened or anchored on the drum, as indicated at the point 3|. This enables the element 20 to serve as a guide, backing and shaping member for the free take-up end of the band.

It is to be observed that the numeral 32 designates circumferentially spaced clips embracing a part or segment of the clamping band, these serving to hold in place a strip of abrasive paper, such as emery cloth 33. The numeral 3d clearly designates a cardboard insert or pad between the abrasive strip and the outer metal band. Hence, the band is properly constructed to efiectively grip the jar or other container in an anti-slipping and properly cushioned manner.

. It will be seen, therefore, that the gist of the invention resides in the provision of a clamping band, which is, in effect, a metal strap loop or noose whose diameter is variable to accommodate different types of containers ranging from those small in cross sectional dimensions to relatively large half-gallon jars. The noose-like band is simply yieldably anchored on the unit 25 at one end, and the opposite end is adjustable through the guide 22. The last named end is anchored on the turnable drum and by turning the drum, it is possible to shorten or lengthen the band to vary the diameter of the noose. Hence, by placing the jar within the limits of the noose and reducing the diameter thereof by turning the drum through the instrumentality of the handle,

or lever, a firm clamping action may be had. The pawl and ratchet means serves to hold the clamp securely around the jar or other container. With the container thus clamped on the base, it is possible to satisfactorily remove the usual screw cap with a tool (not shown), or to use a can opener, or to otherwise employ the device as a table or bench vise.

Considering the invention otherwise, it will be observed that it comprises a suitable base, a clamping band to encircle the object, yieldable anchoring means 25 for one end of the band. and winding and reeling means, in the form of a drum or the like, for the opposite end of the band. Of outstanding importance is the yieldable anchoring means 25 which allows a slight yieldable slippage of the end portion 39 against the extension 2|, due to the cam co-acting contact of the parts. This avoids severely clamping the band around the jar to the point that it might break or otherwise disrupt the jar.

It is thought that the description, taken in connection with the drawings, will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had.

Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. In a structural combination of the class described, a base plate, a relatively fixed abutment on said base plate, a spring-pressed pin slidably mounted on said base plate, a horizontally positioned metal band attached at one end to said pin and in sliding contact with said abutment, a relatively fixed guide for the free end portion of the band to form the band into a jar embracing noose, and a drum having winding connection with the free end of the band.

2. In a structural combination of the class described, a base plate, a relatively fixed abutment on said base plate, a spring-pressed pin slidably mounted on said base plate, a horizontally positioned metal band attached at one end to said pin and in sliding contact with said abutment, a relatively fixed guide for the free end portion of the band to form the band into a jar embracing noose, and a drum having winding connection with the free end of the band, a ratchet surrounding the drum, a hand controlled lever for actuating the drum and a pawl carried by the lever cooperating with the ratchet to secure the drum in predetermined position.

3. In a structure of the class described, a base plate, a substantially annular adapter, said adapter being split on one side and provided with outstanding fixed end extensions, a guide carried by one of said extensions, a springpressed pin slidably mounted on said base, an elastic band attached to said pin, said band being in slidable contact with one of said extensions, the free end portion of the band bearing against said other extension and passing slidably through said guide, a drum mounted for oscillation in said annular adapter, a lever connected with said drum for rotating it, the free end portion of said band being connected with the rim portion of said drum.

4. In a structure of the class described, a base plate, a substantially annular adapter, said adapter being split on one side and provided with outstanding fixed end extensions, a guide carried byv one of said extensions, a springpressed pin slidably mounted on said base, an elastic band attached to said pin, said band being in slidable contact with one of said extensions, the free end portion of the band bearing against said other extension and passing slidably through said guide, a drum mounted for oscillation in said annular adapter, a lever connected with said drum for rotating it, the free end portion of said band being connected with the rim portion of said drum, and coacting pawl and ratchet means between the lever and adapter.

FRANK W. LUCAS. 

